- Definition : A copulative verb is a verb followed by a complement (adjective or noun phrase) which can be "equated" to the subject of the sentence. For example : be, become, get, grow, seem, appear, look, sound, taste, feel, smell, prove, remain, stay, resemble, turn
- Examples :
Paula seemed / appeared / sounded /grew angry (Paula = angry)
The roses smell / look wonderful. ( The roses = wonderful)
The hypothesis proved wrong. (the hypothesis = wrong)
a) Current copulatives express a state : be (happy) / seem (afraid) / stay (calm) etc
b) Resulting copulatives indicate that the complement
is a result of the event or process described by the verb : The lights turned green / They grew tired / He got angry.
The verb be is often referred to as "the" copula in English. In many languages it is dropped in the present tense (eg Russian, Hungarian, Arabic) causing problems for speakers of those languages learning English. Other languages have more than one equivalent for be - eg Italian essere/stare.
NB : It would be better to say that these verbs can be used copulatively rather than that they "are" copulative. They may also be used in other ways. For example, in the following sentences the verbs are used transitively (ie followed by an object) :
Paula smelt the roses. / David tasted the soup.
Recommended reading
Swan and Walter, How English Works : A Grammar Practice Book, OUP
NB : It would be better to say that these verbs can be used copulatively rather than that they "are" copulative. They may also be used in other ways. For example, in the following sentences the verbs are used transitively (ie followed by an object) :
Paula smelt the roses. / David tasted the soup.
Recommended reading
Swan and Walter, How English Works : A Grammar Practice Book, OUP
